By Rick Welling, Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy Barbaresi, and Dr. David Dawson, USAREC, Doctrine DivisionSept. 22, 2015 "The Future Soldier" is the continuing saga of Jessica Carter, now Future Soldier Pvt. Carter. This scenario provides a look at the Future Soldier program and some TTP.

Yesterday, Jessica Carter experienced a life-changing event. She joined the Army as an Army Health Care Specialist, MOS 68W. Her primary recruiter, Staff Sgt. James Johnson, was congratulated by fellow recruiters when he arrived at work the following morning. Johnson reviews the experience to determine if there’s room for improvement in his recruiting process. He looks at the date he received the referral from Mrs. Debrowski, Jessica’s high school guidance counselor, noting it was 12 days ago, and that he invested 19 hours in enlisting Jessica. His center leader invested approximately five hours, and Sgt. Carla Morris invested four. Johnson believes the time spent was worth every minute, since Jessica and her parents are so happy. Johnson AARs with Sgt. 1st Class Carl Miller, his center leader, who thanks Johnson for his efforts, analyzes the enlistment process of Jessica, and commends his short flash to bang and management of the time invested in Jessica’s enlistment. Johnson explains that Jessica spoke to the company commander yesterday, and that he’d made plans to call her today after school to schedule her Future Soldier orientation. He knows the importance of keeping Jessica motivated and wants her engaged with other seniors from her high school as soon as possible. Miller gives Johnson the green light, asking him to him to work with Sgt. Morris so she can learn how to conduct a proper Future Soldier orientation. Johnson and Morris synchronize their schedules for the afternoon telephone call with Jessica. Johnson has two times blocked for Jessica’s initial Future Soldier counseling session. He advises Morris to have a back-up plan just in case the primary plan falls through, telling her “This way, you never have to scramble and will always appear professional and in control.”Johnson likes to schedule the initial session at the center and wants her parents and other influencers to attend. He has a checklist he uses to make sure he covers everything in the center’s Future Soldier Training Program, reviews her enlistment contract, and gives thorough guidance on her initial tasks. Later that afternoon, Johnson and Morris meet in the center’s interview room to call Jessica.Jessica: Hello Staff Sergeant Johnson.Johnson: Hello Pvt. Carter. How are you?Carter: I’m great!Johnson: Pvt. Carter, I have you on speaker with Sgt. Morris in the room. Morris: Hello Jessica, congratulations!Johnson: Sgt. Morris, you mean Pvt. Carter. Morris: Yes, Pvt. Carter. Congratulations!Carter: Thank you Sgt. Morris.Johnson: Pvt. Carter, like we discussed yesterday after your enlistment, the reason I’m calling is to schedule a time for you and your parents to come to the recruiting center for your initial Future Soldier Orientation. Some of the things we’ll do include reviewing your enlistment record, preparing and confirming your training development plan, and explaining in detail my expectations of you as a newly enlisted private in the United States Army. I would like for you and your parents to come in tomorrow between 1630-1715 hours. Is that time good for all of you?Carter: Okay, hold on for a second and let me check. Johnson: Okay.Carter: Sgt. Johnson, that time is fine. Johnson: Excellent. Please make sure you bring all the paperwork given to you at the MEPS, including the backpack and your new Future Soldier ID card. Read through the Future Soldier guide that’s inside the backpack and write down any questions you have about anything you read. In addition, bring the names and phone numbers of three people that you believe would be interested in hearing more about what the Army has to offer. Okay?Carter: Okay! Johnson: What time are we meeting?Carter: Tomorrow between 1630-1715 hours.Johnson: Correct! What do you need to bring with you?Carter: Backpack, Future Soldier ID Card, the paperwork given to me at the MEPS and the names and phone numbers of three people that would be interested in joining or listening to what the Army has to offer. Johnson: Alright, good job Pvt. Carter, we will see you tomorrow. Goodbye.Morris: Goodbye!Carter: Goodbye. Following the phone call, Johnson adds Carter’s initial orientation to his electronic planning guide, and asks Morris to do that same so she doesn’t forget and accidentally double book the time slot. He asks Morris to add a reminder note to her calendar that they need to put together Carter’s Future Soldier folder the following morning during administrative time.The next day, Johnson and Morris arrive at the center a few minutes early to make sure they get everything accomplished during admin time prior to the morning IPR with Miller. One of those tasks is to assemble Pvt. Carter’s Future Soldier folder, which includes the items they will need to complete her initial orientation later that afternoon. Some of the documents Johnson prints for her folder include a DD 2983 (Recruit/Trainee Prohibited Activities Acknowledgment), a UF 601-210.23 (USAREC Future Soldier Advanced Rank Verification), a UF 601-210.24 (Future Soldier Physical Training Program Statement), and a UF 601-210.27 (Medical Safety for Future Soldier Physical Training Program and Physical Fitness Assessments). The folder will also include a copy of the center’s Future Soldier Training Program schedule, a center-created overview of how to navigate www.futuresoldiers.com and access to the Future Soldier Training System, some literature on the Concurrent Admissions Program, a DA 4856 he typically uses as a checklist to counsel new Future Soldiers on requirements and expectations while awaiting initial entry training, and a roster of all the other current Future Soldiers including their phone numbers. Once the folder is assembled, Johnson asks Morris to secure it in the center’s filing cabinet and they continue their day as planned. END OF PART ONE